Abstract
The phase modulator is a key component in optical communications for its phase modulation functions. In this paper, we numerically demonstrate a variety of ultra-compact high-efficiency graphene phase modulators (GPMs) based on metal-nanoribbon integrated hybrid plasmonic waveguides in the near-infrared region. Benefiting from the good in-plane mode polarization matching and strong hybridsurface plasmon polariton and graphene interaction, the 20μm-length GPM can achieve excellent phase modulation performance with a good phase and amplitude decoupling effect, a low insertion loss around 0.3dB/μm, a high modulation efficiency with V π L π of 118.67Vμm at 1.55μm, which is 1-3 orders improvement compared to the state-of-the-art graphene modulators. Furthermore, it has a wide modulation bandwidth of 67.96GHz, a low energy consumption of 157.49fJ/bit, and a wide operating wavelength ranging from 1.3 to 1.8μm. By reducing the overlap width ofthe graphene-Al2O3-graphene capacitor, the modulation bandwidth and energy consumption of the modulator canbe further improved to 370.36GHz and 30.22 fJ/bit, respectively. These compact and energy-efficient GPMs mayhold a key to various high-speed telecommunications, interconnects, and other graphene-based integrated photonics applications.
Highlights
As one of the crucial components for optical communications [1, 2], sensing [3], and integrated optical interconnections and circuits [4], optical modulators have gained considerable attention in recent years [5]
We numerically demonstrate a variety of ultracompact high-efficiency graphene phase modulators (GPMs) based on metal–nanoribbon integrated hybrid plasmonic waveguides in the near-infrared region
By reducing the overlap width of the graphene–Al2O3–graphene capacitor, the modulation bandwidth and energy consumption of the modulator can be further improved to 370.36 GHz and 30.22 fJ/bit, respectively
Summary
As one of the crucial components for optical communications [1, 2], sensing [3], and integrated optical interconnections and circuits [4], optical modulators have gained considerable attention in recent years [5]. There is a trade-off between optical loss, footprint, and VπLπ for the current GPMs. how to drastically increase the light-graphene interaction and develop broadband high-performance GPMs with much higher modulation efficiency, smaller modulation length, and lower energy consumption, as well as maintain excellent decoupling between phase and amplitude modulation in the nearinfrared region remains a challenge. We demonstrate a new type of highefficiency GPM based on a dual-semicircular-metal–nanoribbon integrated graphene–insulator–graphene capacitor hybrid plasmonic waveguide structure for near-infrared applications In this design, the surface plasmon polariton mode confinement, polarization matching (in-plane electric field components of graphene), and light-graphene interactions are drastically enhanced, enabling excellent phase modulation performance. This work provides a new path for the design of high-efficiency GPMs relied on hybrid plasmonic effects and may have great potentials in near-infrared interconnects and telecommunication applications
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